Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

Redskins Nation is a half-hour show devoted to giving fans unfiltered access to the day's events at Redskins Park. Hosted by Larry Michael, the show features Redskins players, coaches and sit-down interviews with team officials. (Show re-airs at 11:30 p.m/7:30 a.m. daily)

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Rookie Redskins’ cornerback Richard Crawford was 5-foot-7 when he graduated from El Camino High School in Oceanside, Calif.

The major college football programs, in turn, passed on offering Crawford — a short-but-speedy defensive back and kick returner — a spot on their teams.

Two years later, Crawford — now four inches taller — had transferred from Saddleback Community College in California to Southern Methodist University, where he would continue to move up the lists of professional football scouts nationwide.

Over the last two NFL drafts, Mike Shanahan’s Redskins have selected three players out of the Southern Methodist program coached by Run-n-Shoot savant June Jones. The Run-n-Shoot is far from a traditional pro-style offense, and players are thought to have trouble adjusting to the NFL game.

So what inspires the attraction to former Mustangs?

After drafting Aldrick Robinson in 2011, it was revealed that head coach Mike Shanahan spoke at length with Mustangs’ head coach June Jones, with whom he had a professional relationship dating back 25 years (via PonyFans.com): Read more »

Even though the first two nights of the NFL Draft each yielded one Redskins selection a piece, they couldn’t be more different in kind.

Last night brought Robert Griffin III, the much-ballyhooed, Heisman-winning quarterback from Baylor University. He received more attention in the lead up to the draft than the No. 1 overall pick, and instantly launches the Redskins into consideration as the most-improved team.

Offensive guard Josh LeRibeus did not inspire that kind of reaction, but then offensive guards rarely do. Not many boards highlighted his technique or physical prowess, but he’s clearly a guy that the Redskins coaches loved at No. 71.

We’ll get more explanation on that tomorrow when head coach Mike Shanahan addresses the media, but I wouldn’t write off the pick in the mean time. The Redskins needed help along the offensive line, and all reports indicate that LeRibeus excels in the zone-blocking system.

If you look up zone-blocking in the football dictionary, you’ll find Shanahan’s headshot grinning back at you.

So without further adieu, meet your second Redskins draft pick, Southern Methodist University Mustang Josh LeRibeus. If it puts your mind at ease, he and fellow Redskins teammate Aldrick Robinson were part of the 2009 Mustangs squad that broke the 25-year bowl game drought for the school: Read more »

For the second year in a row, the Redskins have selected a Southern Methodist University Mustang, this time targeting offensive guard Josh LeRibeus.

A 6-3, 312-pound specimen, he is ideal as a run-blocker and excels in the zone-blocking scheme. Here are some of his mentionables, according to his Combine Draft Profile:

Leribeus returned for his senior campaign after being academically ineligible to play for SMU during his junior season. He returned to be the scrappy, reliable inside blocker that he has been throughout his career.

He has the size and technique inside to play early at the next level or be a reliable backup, which gives him fifth-round value as a guard or potential center.

Taken in the first half of the third round, LeRibeus will be expected to fill a role in improving the Redskins offensive line in 2012 and beyond. Coming from the Run-n-Shoot offense, he shouldn’t have the transition time to the Pro Style offense that plagued Aldrick Robinson, but his adjustment from Conference USA competition could take time.

LeRibeus missed a season of college because of academic ineligibility, but sounds like he’s re-dedicated himself to football and academics since then. He was also born and raised in Texas, and says he hated the Cowboys as a kid.

Here’s an interview from his Pro Day earlier this spring. By all reports, he’s a funny, easy-going guy: Read more »

Wide receiver Aldrick Robinson has been part of groups from the moment he was drafted. He was the second of back-to-back sixth round picks. He was the third wide receiver selected by the Redskins. The closest he’s come to a spotlight on the blog was being one of the people featured in my look at draft day phone calls. Redskins.com intern Brian Tinsman was determined to change that. This is the result.

by Brian Tinsman
Redskins.com

To be clear, Aldrick Robinson is a soft-spoken guy who has never committed a crime worthy of capital punishment, even by the standards of his native Texas. But much of his football story has been shaped by a different kind of “death penalty.”

As a result, the 1987 season was canceled, and the school nixed the 1988 season as well. No recruiting was permitted until August 1988. The team was banned from television coverage and bowl games until 1989. The team was also only permitted to have half of the normal coaching staff and lost most of their athletic scholarships.

Stick a fork in the Mustangs — they were done. The program that produced NFL greats Eric Dickerson, Raymond Berry and Craig James was closed for business.